Don’t Delay – Apply now for fall programs
Welcome! If you live in the City and County of Denver and have a preschooler, you’re in the right spot for tuition assistance. For over 16 years, the Denver Preschool Program (DPP) has helped Denver families find and pay for preschool.
Denver Preschool Program (DPP) offers preschool tuition credits for all Denver families with 4-year-olds and a limited number of 3-year-olds. Our average tuition credit for 4-year-olds was $788/month for the 2021-2022 school year. ALL families living in the City and County of Denver are eligible for DPP tuition credits, regardless of income, neighborhood, or immigration status. And DPP tuition credits can be used during summer months, too!
New for the 2023-2024 school year, Colorado’s Universal Preschool (UPK Colorado) support can be combined with DPP tuition credits. The average Denver family can expect to receive at least $4,800 for preschool tuition support from August 2023-May 2024. Learn more about UPK Colorado and how it benefits Denver families.
Don’t delay–here’s how to benefit from both UPK Colorado and DPP tuition assistance for your 4-year-old:
- Find a preschool provider find.dpp.org
Search for providers near your work or home.
- Apply for UPK Colorado at upk.colorado.gov
You’ll be asked to rank the preschool providers of your choice (based on your search in step 1). You’ll then be matched with a provider based on your criteria and availability.
- Enroll your child at the preschool provider
Every provider may have slightly different requirements and enrollment processes.
- Apply for DPP tuition credits
After you apply, you’ll receive notification of the amount of DPP tuition credit that will be paid to your preschool provider on your behalf. As a reminder, DPP tuition credits can be used in the summer months and are available to all Denver families.
Interested in preschool tuition assistance for your 3-year-old?
- For UPK Colorado support, start by determining if your child meets the eligibility for 3-year-olds.
- DPP aims to equitably expand access to preschool by offering tuition assistance to a limited number of 3-year-olds, based on need. Learn more about DPP’s Preschool for 3s tuition assistance.
Get to Know the Denver Preschool Program
Since 2006, we have provided more than $150 million in tuition support to nearly 70,000 children.
During the 2021-2022 school year, Denver Preschool Program provided more than $18M in tuition credits to more than 4,700 children. We continue covering 100% of preschool tuition costs for families experiencing financial hardship. Learn more about the Denver Preschool Program’s impact.
Denver Preschool Program tuition assistance doesn’t just benefit the child attending preschool.
Families who utilize DPP tuition support are more likely to be able to participate in the workforce, go to school themselves, and miss fewer days of work and school.
Universal Preschool (UPK) Colorado begins with the 2023-2024 school year, ensuring more children throughout Colorado have access to high-quality preschool.
In Denver, Colorado’s UPK program will complement Denver Preschool Program’s proven tuition credit and quality initiative programs.
Why DPP believes preschool is so important
When compared to children who do not attend preschool, children who benefit from Denver Preschool Program show significant gains in:
- Kindergarten readiness
- Better early literacy skills
- More advanced social and emotional skills
- Fewer problems with self-management
These gains are even bigger for many Denver Preschool Program students who have been historically underserved.